Water cooler attachment for refrigerators



Nov. 21, 1933. v M, MNNE 1,936,517

WATER COOLER ATTACHMENT FOR REFRIGEHATORS Filed Feb. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 21, 1933.

v. M. MAINE 1,936,517 WATER COOLER ATTACHMENT FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Feb. 6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Z"? 5 O 4 a Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES WATER COOLER ATTACHMENT FOR REFRIGERATORS Vernon M. Maine, Rhinelander, Wis, assignor to Rhinelander Wis.

Refrigerator 00., Rhinelander,

Application February 6, 1932. Serial No. 591,413

Claims.

This invention relates to water cooler attachments for use in connection with refrigerators. It is an object of the invention to provide a cooler which, while in normal position, can be 5 suspended on the inner surface of a door of a refrigerator where the contents of the device will be kept cool.

Afurther object is to provide a cooler which can be lifted readily from position on the door and easily carried, as when it is desired to serve water at a table or to fill the cooler.

Another object is to provide a cooler from which water can be drawn at will without detaching it from the refrigerator door.

A still further object is to provide a cooler which, while in position in a refrigerator, occupies a space which usually is wasted, namely, that space between the ice and the door closing the ice compartment.

Another object is to provide a cooler which is sanitary, easily handled, and is free from all outside connections which tend to leak, sweat, or have other objectionable features.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of con struction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise em-' bodiment of the invention, herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings: 7

Figure 1 is an elevation of the inner side of a refrigerator door showing suspended thereon a Water cooler embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a section through a portion of the ice compartment of a refrigerator showing the door thereof in side elevation and the cooler suspended thereon.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carrier or basket portion of the cooler.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing another form of cooler mounted on the door.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the door, the 50 cooler and its basket or carrier being shown in section on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the carrier or basket shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to the figures by characters of ref- 55 erence D designates a door of any desired construction such as commonly provided in one wall of the ice chamber C of a refrigerator, a portion of which has been indicated at B. As a general rule-there is a wasted space between the door D and the cake of ice I supported in the chamber C 6 and the present invention'is designed to utilize this space for containing a cooler. This has been clearly shown in Figure 2.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3 there is provided a carrier or 65 basket made up of strong wires or rods bent to provide side yokes 1, each of which has one arm provided at its free end with a head or enlarge ment 2 containing a keyhole slot 3 or the like. The free ends of the other arms are joined by a top connecting rod 4 integral therewith. The lower portions of these last-named arms are also joined by a lower connecting rod 5 which can be connected thereto by soldering, spot welding, orother means. At an intermediate point the side yokes 1 are surrounded by a holding frame 6.

A container of glass, earthenware, or any other suitable material has been indicated at 7 and is adapted to be lowered into the yokes 1 and frame 6 so that its bottom will be supported by the lower ends of the yokes i. This container has an open top which can be. provided with a cap 8 or other form of closure. One side of the container can be recessed at its lower end, as shown at 9, to provide a clearance into which can project a 8 downwardly discharging faucet ll) adapted .to be opened by pressure on a head 11. This faucet is of well-known construction and a detailed illustration and description thereof does not appear to be necessary. By providing the container with a recessed or inset portion the faucet will not interfere with the insertion and withdrawal of the container relative to the basket or carrier.

Studs 12, such as screws or the like, are fastened to the inner side of the door D near its upperend and are so positioned that the slotted heads 2 can be placed in engagement therewith simultaneously and then lowered relative thereto to the positions shown in Figure 1. Thus the carrier or basket will be held securely to the door.

Those portions of the basket or carrier which engage container 7 and door D can be provided with cushioning sleeves 13 of rubber or the like. Thus the door will not be marred by the device and the container will be cushioned and so protected to a certain extent from injury by direct contact with the ice.

The carrier or basket can easily be lifted from, the door by means of the upper connecting rod 4 which constitutes a handle. The device can thus be filled readily at a faucet or should it be desired to dispense liquid from the container the basket or carrier can be placed on the edge portion of a table so as to support the container where a glass or the like can be placed in position to receive liquid from faucet 10.

It is not necessary to remove the device for the purpose of dispensing liquid. If desired the door can be opened, a glass placed under the outlet of faucet l0 and the said faucet opened in the usual manner. After the desired amount has been Withdrawn the door can be closed.

It will be noted that this device supports the cooler close to the ice in chamber C so that its contents will be quickly cooled.

Other fori s of the device embodying the advantages heretofore pointed out can be provided. One of these has been illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. In this structure the basket or carrier includes upwardly converging side yokes 14. The upper end of one arm of each of these yokes has an extension or head 15 and these are joined to a pivot stud 17. The other of each yoke is extended upwardly as at 18 and these portions 18 are joined by an inverted substantially triangular upper connecting bar is constituting a handle. The portions 18 are jointed to pivot stud 20 which extends toward and alines with the stud 17. A lower connecting bar 21 also joins the yokes and serves to transversely stiffen the basket or carrier formed by the yokes and the parts joined thereto.

The container 22 can be of any preferred material. In the structure illustrated it is shaped somewhat like a flask with an open mouth portion 23 adapted to be closed by a cap 24 or the like. oppositely disposed recesses 25 are formed in the flask above the center of gravity thereof and are adapted to receive the pivot studs 17 and 18. Thus the container will be held by gravity normally with its open portion uppermost.

Hooks 26 or other suitable shaped supporting studs are extended from the upper portion of the inner surface of the door D and are adapted to engage and support the upper connecting rod 19. Additional hooks or studs 27 are extended from the lower portion of the door and can be engaged by the lower connecting rod 21. Thus the device can be held firmly to the door and will swing therewith. Should it be desired to remove the device from the refrigerator the upper connecting rod 19 can be used as a handle and the carrier or basket lifted from the studs and thereafter placed with the bottom portions of the yoke resting on a table or the like. When thus placed it is possible to swing the container about the axis of the pivoted studs 17 and 20 so that a portion of the contents can be discharged into a glass.

If preferred, the device can be kept in position on the door and after the door has been opened the container can be swung into position to discharge a portion of its contents.

The material of which the basket or carrier is formed can be of spring metal so that those portions of the yokenearest the ice in the refrigerator can have a slightly yielding or cushioning action as will be obvious by referring to Figure 5.

While the coolers illustrated and described are designed primarily for holding water, it is to be understood that they will be equally useful as containers for other beverages.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable cooler including a carrier for detachable engagement with a support, and a dispensing container tiltably mounted in the carrier.

2. A portable cooler including a carrier for detachable engagement with a support, and a dispensing container tiltably and removably mounted in the carrier.

3-. A portable cooler including a connecting member, yokes extending therefrom, and a dispensing container tiltably mounted Within the yokes.

4. The combination with the door of a refrigerator structure and supporting means upon the inner surface thereof, of a portable cooler detachably engaging and supported" by said elements, said cooler comprising a carrier and a dispensing container removably mounted in the carrier, said car ier having guard portions extending across the exposed face of the container.

5. The combination with thedoor of a refrigerator structure, of a portable dispensing container, means for detachably connecting said container to the inner surface of the door, said means including a carrier having guard portions extending across the exposed surface of the container, and cushioning devices on said guard portions.

VERNON M. MAINE. 

